Azata mystery cultist

There's no reason an azata couldn't be a mystery cultist, right? I'm thinking particularly of a lillend. Those gals cast like a 7th level bard to begin with. So if you give one three levels of cultist, that results in a CR 10 creature who casts like a 9th level bard. (Which is not actually a big deal for a CR 10 creature, but she has enough other stuff going on to make this a viable NPC build. I think.)

So, a couple of questions occur. (1) I'm away from my splatbooks today. Which empyreal lord would be a good patron for a lillend? Specifically, a lillend who wanders around a fixed area as a sort of unofficial guardian and protectress. (It's a mostly wilderness area with a single large town.) (2) Assume she's specialized for buffing, enchantment and battlefield control in that order, not blasting. Any suggestions for spells or items?

Thanks in advance,

Doug M.

That should work, yeah. Though it should be noted this combination would be a lot more powerful with one more level, since they'd then get 4th level spells, and the ability to summon minions with Summon Celestial. Notsure if that's what you're looking for, but worth noting.

Chadali (Azata lord of fate, safety, and serendipity) should work, her Obedience grants +4 AC vs. attacks of opportunity provoked by casting, her first boon is Pass Without Trace 3/day, Aid 2/day, or Protection From Energy 1/day. As should Sinashakti (Azata lord of journeys, joy, and messengers), his Obedience gives a +4 bonus to saves vs. spells that would impede movement, and his first boon is Longstrider 3/day, Forest Friend 2/day, or Good Hope 1/day.

As for spells, well, at 3rd, you need Haste and Good Hope. Maybe throw in Confusion for offense, and either Charm Monster for enchantment, or Dispel Magic for utility. You could skip Good Hope if going with Sinashakti's Good Hope boon.

At 2nd level, grab Mirror Image, Glitterdust, Suggestion, and Invisibility or maybe Cure Moderate Wounds.

At 1st level, I'd go Grease, Deadeye's Lore, Charm Person, Saving Finale and either Alarm or Cure Light Wounds, depending on what you're going for.

Stat-wise, I'd go with the following:

Str 24, Dex 19, Con 22, Int 16 Wis 14 Cha 24 (28 with Glorious Aura) (Note: Using the +4/+4/+2/+2/+0/-2 quick method, plus a +1 per four HD, which monsters do technically get if given a class).

Throw in Power Attack for Feats, add a Mithral Chain Shirt for equipment, and I think you're good to go with a pretty solid CR 10.

That'l result in +9 Fortitude, +12 Reflex, +11 Will for Saves, 112 HP, 25 AC, solid damage, and potentially Save DC 22 on spells, all before Bardic Performance or buff spells, and otherwise just a solid CR 10.

That should work, yeah. Though it should be noted this combination would be a lot more powerful with one more level, since they'd then get 4th level spells, and the ability to summon minions with Summon Celestial.

I think it could be a really interesting build, but it's not what I'm going for here. Right now this gal, plus a few mooks, will be an interesting challenge for my PCs. At CR 11 she'd be moving into boss territory, which is not where I want to go.

As should Sinashakti (Azata lord of journeys, joy, and messengers), his Obedience gives a +4 bonus to saves vs. spells that would impede movement, and his first boon is Longstrider 3/day, Forest Friend 2/day, or Good Hope 1/day.

I think that's a go. Thanks!

As for spells, well, at 3rd, you need Haste and Good Hope. Maybe throw in Confusion for offense, and either Charm Monster for enchantment, or Dispel Magic for utility. You could skip Good Hope if going with Sinashakti's Good Hope boon.

Haste for sure, because of the mooks. Also, my PCs love spamming Haste, so it's only fair they get it back at them now and then. (I dislike Haste a lot, but what can you do.) -- Hm, I see Haste stacks with Good Hope. Tasty! Must try to make sure she has a few rounds to buff.

Str 24, Dex 19, Con 22, Int 16 Wis 14 Cha 24 (28 with Glorious Aura) (Note: Using the +4/+4/+2/+2/+0/-2 quick method, plus a +1 per four HD, which monsters do technically get if given a class).

I'd swap the modifiers on Int and Wis, and possibly on Dex and Str as well... not really seeing her as a melee character. But max on Cha for sure.

Throw in Power Attack for Feats, add a Mithral Chain Shirt for equipment, and I think you're good to go with a pretty solid CR 10.

Uncertain about Power Attack -- if she melees, the PCs will likely swarm her and action-economy her to death. I think standing off and helping her mooks (until they're all dead) makes more sense. Maybe Flyby Attack?

That'l result in +9 Fortitude, +12 Reflex, +11 Will for Saves, 112 HP, 25 AC, solid damage, and potentially Save DC 22 on spells, all before Bardic Performance or buff spells, and otherwise just a solid CR 10.

Yeah, good saves are a must with a large party flinging save-or-sucks. -- Okay, this has been very helpful. Thank you! Do you want to throw in any ideas on equipment? CR 10 heroic NPC, and her longsword doesn't count; that would let her have a bit of stuff. Thoughts?

Doug M.

I think it could be a really interesting build, but it's not what I'm going for here. Right now this gal, plus a few mooks, will be an interesting challenge for my PCs. At CR 11 she'd be moving into boss territory, which is not where I want to go.

Totally cool, just noting.

I think that's a go. Thanks!

You're very welcome. :)

Haste for sure, because of the mooks. Also, my PCs love spamming Haste, so it's only fair they get it back at them now and then. (I dislike Haste a lot, but what can you do.) -- Hm, I see Haste stacks with Good Hope. Tasty! Must try to make sure she has a few rounds to buff

She only really needs two, though three is better.

I'd swap the modifiers on Int and Wis, and possibly on Dex and Str as well... not really seeing her as a melee character. But max on Cha for sure.

Swapping the Int and Wis mods is tricky because one's a +2 and the other a -2 from the base creature.

And Lillend are designed as melee beasts. That's what they do. Any race with a +10 Str, +6 Dex, +10 Con (which is what Lillend have) is made to break people in melee. Really, that and some Enchantment is what they're built for. That's why they have Combat Casting, after all.

You could build an Archer Lillend, and it'd be scary, but a direct swap of stats doesn't work, and you'd have to swap out most of the base creature's Feats.

It's doable, but more work, and probably not as deadly offensively...though with flight, your melee PCs might not have much they can do about it...

Okay, if going archery the stats would be Str 22, Dex 22, Con 21, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 24. Replace all the Feats with the following list:

Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim, Multishot. Maybe swap out Multishot for Iron Will if you want a more defensive build.

Saves drop to +8 Fortitude, +12 Reflex, +9 Will, though Items and Good Hope still help out. HP drop to 102, AC rises to 27.

Actually...looking at that, it's terrifying. So yeah, going with that works. Though if your party lack serious range stuff, they might get massacred.

Uncertain about Power Attack -- if she melees, the PCs will likely swarm her and action-economy her to death. I think standing off and helping her mooks (until they're all dead) makes more sense. Maybe Flyby Attack?

I'd go either archery or straight melee. And surviving PC action-economy for long enough to do serious damage is what minions and Mirror Image are for. Plus the AC 28 she'd have if going by my suggested gear below.

Yeah, good saves are a must with a large party flinging save-or-sucks. -- Okay, this has been very helpful. Thank you! Do you want to throw in any ideas on equipment? CR 10 heroic NPC, and her longsword doesn't count; that would let her have a bit of stuff. Thoughts?

Assuming 12,750, well, for melee, a Mithral Chain Shirt for a Lillend (as I already reccomended) is 4.4k. I'd make it +1 (upping it to 5.4k), give her a Ring of Protection +1, Amulet of Natural Armor +1, a Cloak of Resistance +1, a Broach of Shielding (because I'm mean) and 850 or so in consumables (probably a few different Wands with only a couple of charges and maybe a potion or two).

For an archer, +1 Large Sized Adaptive Composite Longbow is a must at 3100 gp, the +1 Chain shirt remains good at 5.4 k, toss on a Ring of Protection +1, a Cloak of Resistance +1, and you have 1250 left for consumables.